Comments on: Wind Power? No Says Lamar Alexander http://donklephant.com/2005/06/22/wind-power-no-says-lamar-alexander-2/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:32:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Aaron http://donklephant.com/2005/06/22/wind-power-no-says-lamar-alexander-2/comment-page-1/#comment-59338 Aaron Wed, 09 Aug 2006 02:33:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=69#comment-59338 I always like how opponents of wind power complain about how unattractive these wind turbines are and how they can be seen for miles; these people obviously have never seen how hideous a coal or gas plant looks with its giant smokestacks (they're far taller than a turbine and have the same flashing red lights to boot!), networks of pipelines running out from the plants, and gigantic transmission lines from the plants to the substations. After all, it's not their community that has to place the plant in its vincinity. Which one looks better? Coal Power: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050204/050203_coal_power_hmed11a.hmedium.jpg -or- Wind Power: http://donb.furfly.net/photo_cd/l/b86.jpg I always like how opponents of wind power complain about how unattractive these wind turbines are and how they can be seen for miles; these people obviously have never seen how hideous a coal or gas plant looks with its giant smokestacks (they’re far taller than a turbine and have the same flashing red lights to boot!), networks of pipelines running out from the plants, and gigantic transmission lines from the plants to the substations. After all, it’s not their community that has to place the plant in its vincinity.

Which one looks better?

Coal Power: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050204/050203_coal_power_hmed11a.hmedium.jpg

-or-

Wind Power:
http://donb.furfly.net/photo_cd/l/b86.jpg

]]> By: Kent Beuchert http://donklephant.com/2005/06/22/wind-power-no-says-lamar-alexander-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58884 Kent Beuchert Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:19:04 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=69#comment-58884 I notice that Lamar Alexander's logic is rather interesting - he notes that wind turbines only operate at 35%, as the wind comes and goes. The question isn't the utilization factors (which usually is less than 35% for onshore wind turbines) - that is totally irrelevant in dtermining the value of wind power The issue of concern is how much does the elctricity COST. The answer is that TODAY the cost of wind power is competitive with most fossil fuels and less than some. TOMORROW the wind will still be free. Does Lamar actually think that fossil fuels are going to go DOWN in price over the next 30 years? Lamar seems to think that a wind turbine's visibility has some significance. If he can see a wndmill at 20 miles, then he can also see comm towers for even longer distances. Is he arguing that comm towers (and tall buildings) now be torn down because they are not invisible? Why does he worry that a pretty light can be seen off in the distance? Doesn't he see those airplanes with their lights, up in the sky? They can be seen for 100 miles. Does Lamar want us to stop flying airplanes? Is Lamar braindead? I notice that Lamar Alexander’s logic is rather interesting – he notes that wind
turbines only operate at 35%, as the wind comes and goes. The question
isn’t the utilization factors (which usually is less than 35% for onshore
wind turbines) – that is totally irrelevant in dtermining the value of wind power The issue of concern is how much does the elctricity COST. The answer is that TODAY the cost of wind power is competitive with most fossil fuels and
less than some. TOMORROW the wind will still be free. Does Lamar
actually think that fossil fuels are going to go DOWN in price over the next 30 years? Lamar seems to think that a wind turbine’s visibility has some significance. If he can see a wndmill at 20 miles, then he can also see comm towers for even longer distances. Is he arguing that comm towers (and tall buildings) now be torn down because they are not invisible? Why does he worry that a pretty light can be seen off in the distance? Doesn’t he see those airplanes with their lights, up in the sky? They can be seen for 100 miles. Does Lamar want us to stop flying airplanes? Is Lamar braindead?

]]> By: April Streeter http://donklephant.com/2005/06/22/wind-power-no-says-lamar-alexander-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58851 April Streeter Mon, 07 Aug 2006 08:43:15 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=69#comment-58851 I love these summaries of wind power's detractions where the detractor neglects to mention the subsidies to ALL energy sources. Comparing the subsidies to just one other power source, I don't care which one, would certainly provide a good balancing objectivity to this viewpoint. I love these summaries of wind power’s detractions where the detractor neglects to mention the subsidies to ALL energy sources. Comparing the subsidies to just one other power source, I don’t care which one, would certainly provide a good balancing objectivity to this viewpoint.

]]> By: Koskd http://donklephant.com/2005/06/22/wind-power-no-says-lamar-alexander-2/comment-page-1/#comment-58815 Koskd Mon, 07 Aug 2006 05:24:03 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=69#comment-58815 Good job. Good job.

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